Mechanism for rotating case

ABSTRACT

Turning case mechanism particularly for cosmetic products, composed of a pivoting body mounted in rotation on a main piece, formed by a traveler, base and hinge elements connecting the base to the traveler, between a lower articulation point with the base and an upper articulation point with the traveler; said traveler intended to be mobile between an open or upper position and a closed or lower position, characterized in that when the traveler is in the lower position, the hinge elements are arranged at least in part below the horizontal plane that contains the lower articulation point.

This invention concerns a turning case mechanism, the same type as thoseused for cosmetic products, such as lipsticks or lip creams, forexample.

A number of turning cases are known in the prior art, such as the onedescribed in the applicant's French patent request no. 97 10166, forexample. The principle behind these cases consists of making atraveler—a product-holding device—move axially by means of rotating abody with a spiral groove in which a finger or guide pin of the travelerintended for running inside said groove, cooperates. This type ofmechanism requires means for blocking the traveler in rotation withrespect to the pivoting body in such a way as to bring about the axialmovement of the latter when the spiral groove pivots thus making thefinger or guide pin of the traveler run inside of it.

These blocking means can be comprised of an independent third piece,such as a base, for example, from which two parts with a longitudinalprofile extend, intended to cooperate with two peripheral channels inthe outside of the traveler for guiding it when it slides and stoppingit in rotation with respect to the pivoting body. However, thesemechanisms can also only be comprised of two separate pieces i.e., aconventional pivoting body and a main piece comprising a base, atraveler and articulated hinges connecting the base to the pivoting bodyallowing one piece to move axially with respect to the other by openingup but preventing any rotation between them.

However, these devices, though they have the advantage of reducing thenumber of pieces needed for the turning case mechanism, neverthelesshave disadvantages related to the delicacy of the hinges' movementbetween the pieces, as well as their placement in a closed position. Thesuperposition of the hinge elements above the base is a problem incomplying with the size constraints of this type of cosmetic product,and in particular for long bases, chosen for aesthetic reasons.

The object of the present invention is to resolve the above-mentionedproblems with means that are simple, reliable, inexpensive and easy toimplement. It proposes a turning case mechanism capable of being used incosmetology that is solid with a reduced size with respect to similarproducts of the prior art.

According to its main feature, the turning case mechanism—particularlysuitable for cosmetic products according to the invention—is comprisedof a pivoting body mounted in rotation on a main piece, formed by atraveler, a base and hinge elements connecting the base to the travelerbetween a lower articulation point on the base and an upper articulationpoint on the traveler. This traveler is intended to be mobile between anopen or upper position and a closed or lower position and ischaracterized in that when the traveler is in the lower position, thehinged elements are arranged at least in part below the horizontal planethat contains the lower articulation point.

Another feature of the turning case mechanism is the base with a spaceextending below the lower articulation point, in which at least aportion of the hinge elements is placed, when the traveler is in thelower position.

According to one embodiment of the turning case mechanism, the space ismade by a reaming out of the base.

According to another feature of the turning case mechanism according tothe invention, when the traveler is in the lower position, all of thehinge elements are arranged below the horizontal plane that contains thelower articulation point.

According to the preferred embodiment of the turning case mechanism, thehinge elements are comprised of two elements, a lower element and anupper element articulated between themselves at an intermediatearticulation point.

There is another feature of the turning case mechanism wherein the lowerarticulation points between the base and the lower element and the upperelement, between the traveler and the upper element, the lower and upperelements are arranged in alignment on either side of the mechanism in amean longitudinal plane when the traveler is in the upper position.

According to one of the embodiment variations of the turning casemechanism, at least a part of the traveler is below the horizontal planethat contains the lower articulation point, when in the lower or closedposition.

According to this embodiment variation, the traveler has in its lowerportion a clearance notch in which one of the hinge elements ispositioned in part when the mechanism is in the lower or closedposition.

According to another characteristic of the turning case mechanismaccording to the invention, when the traveler is in the lower or closedposition, the upper articulation point is situated below the horizontalplane containing the lower articulation point.

According to another characteristic of the turning case mechanism, thelatter is characterized in that it has stopping means constituted ofstop surfaces of the pivoting body and support surfaces of the travelerof the main piece.

According to one embodiment of the turning case mechanism according tothe invention, the support surfaces are arranged on the traveler's guidepins and are formed by the pins' beveled surfaces.

According to this embodiment, the stop surfaces are arranged in theinner grooves of the pivoting body at their respective ends.

According to pother characteristic of this embodiment, the stoppingmeans have side support and stop surfaces which prevent the rotationbetween the traveler and pivoting body in the extreme positions of theclosed and opened traveler and side support and stop surfaces thatprevent any longitudinal movement of the traveler in the pivoting bodywhen it is in its open position.

According to an additional characteristic of the turning case mechanisminvention, it is characterized in that the hinge elements have a roundedor curved transversal profile.

According to another characteristic of the turning case mechanism, themain piece is fabricated in a plastic material chosen among thepolyolefin and acetylic materials.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become evident fromthe following description referring to the attached drawings which areprovided by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples.

FIGS. 1a through 14 c illustrate the preferred mode of embodying theturning case mechanism and a variation thereof.

FIGS. 1a through 7 b illustrate a first preferred embodiment of theturning case mechanism.

FIG. 1a illustrates a longitudinal section ol the turning casemechanism, in its open or upper position.

FIG. 1b illustrates a view from below of the mechanism in the openposition.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view similar to that of FIG. 1a of the turning casemechanism in a closed or lower position.

FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal section of the main piece in the openposition.

FIG. 4 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 3 of the main piece of theturning case mechanism in an intermediate position.

FIG. 5 represents the longitudinal section of the main piece in thelower position.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the main piece in the open position.

FIGS. 7a and 7 b represent a cross-section of the main piece, accordingto AA and BB, respectively.

FIGS. 8 through 14c illustrate an embodiment variation of the turningcase mechanism.

FIG. 8 illustrates the turning case mechanism according to a viewsimilar to FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 represents a longitudinal section of the turning case mechanismin an intermediate position.

FIGS. 10a and 10 b illustrate a longitudinal section of the mechanism'smain piece in the closed position and in an intermediate position,respectively.

FIGS. 11a and 11 b illustrate a cross-section of the main piece's hingeelements according to GG and CC, respectively.

FIGS. 12a, 12 b and 12 c represent the traveler of the main piece andits guide pins from the front, from the side with a partial crosssection according to EE and from above, respectively.

FIG. 13 illustrates the front view of the pivoting body of the turningcase mechanism.

FIGS. 14a, 14 b, and 14 c respectively illustrate the cross section ofthe arrangement of the pivoting body's stop element according to DD, EEand FF, respectively.

According to the invention, the turning case mechanism bearing thegeneral reference (1) is composed of two pieces, i.e., a pivoting body(2) and a main piece (3). The main piece is comprised of a base (4), atraveler (5) and articulated hinge elements (6) also called ribs thatconnect them and that constitute the means of blocking the rotation,intended to make the traveler and the base interlocking in order toprevent any pivoting between them.

The base (4) and the traveler (5) are blocked in rotation respectivelybetween themselves by the hinge elements (6). These hinge elements allowthe traveler (5) to move axially with respect to the base (4) in amanner known in itself the length of the axis of revolution (ZZ′) of theturning case mechanism (I).

The axial movement of the traveler (5) with respect to the base (4) isachieved in a manner known in itself by the rotation of the pivotingbody (2) with respect to the main piece (3) which allows one or moreguide pins (7 a, 7 b) of the traveler (5) to move in the respectivegrooves (8 a, 8 b) journaled in the inside wall of the pivoting body (2)when it pivots.

We note that this type of turning case mechanism (1) can advantageouslybe used to make lipstick cases or other cosmetic or pharmaceuticalproducts, such as lip creams. However, these mechanisms could possiblybe used in other fields, such as tube glues or other.

The hinge elements (6) are articulated at their upper end on the lowerside of the traveler (5) and at the lower end on the upper end of thebase (4), respectively at the upper and lower articulation points (9 a,9 b). They allow the traveler (5) to slide along the axis of revolution(ZZ′) within the pivoting body (2) between a closed or lower positionA), illustrated in FIG. 2 and an open or upper position (B), illustratedin FIGS. 1a and 3.

According to the invention, the turning case mechanism (1) is embodiedin such a manner that in the closed position (A), also called lowerposition, at feast a portion of the hinged elements (6) are arrangedbelow the horizontal plane (H) that contains the lower articulationpoint (9 b) of said hinge elements (6) on the base (4).

According to the preferred embodiment of the turning case mechanisms(1), the hinge elements (6) are arranged entirely below the lowerarticulation point (9 b) when they are in the closed or lower position(A). In order to do this, the base (4) at its upper end is provided witha space or housing (10) in which the hinge elements are intended to bepositioned, said space extending below the lower articulation point (9b). This space (10) can advantageously be obtained by performing areaming out (11) of the base (4) over its entire length.

According to the preferred embodiment of the turning case mechanisms (1)according to the invention, the main piece (1) has two hinge elements orribs (6 a, 6 b) articulated between themselves at an intermediaryarticulation point (9 c). The first or lower element (6 b) isarticulated on the top of the base (4) at the lower articulation point(9 b) and the upper element (6 a) is articulated on the lower side (13)of the bottom (8 b) of the traveler (5). The various articulations (9 a,9 b, 9 c) are advantageously obtained through means known in themselves,by shrinking or necking the wall portions constituting the hingeelements (6 a, 6 b). We note that according to the various embodimentsof the turning case mechanism according to the invention, the piecescomposing it are advantageously made of plastic by means of an injectionprocess, for example.

As shown by FIGS. 1b and 3, the upper and lower hinge elements arearranged in the extension of each other, when the turning case mechanism(1) is in the open or upper position (B). We note that the upper (9 a)and lower (9 b) articulation points are advantageously arranged oneither side of a median longitudinal plan containing the axis ofrevolution (ZZ′) of the mechanism. It goes without saying that theconfiguration of the hinge elements could be different without as suchdeparting from the scope of the invention.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, all of the hingeelements (6 a, 6 b) are housed beneath the lower articulation point (9b) when the mechanism is in a lower position (A). The lower hingeelement (6 b) preferably is positioned in an essentially verticalposition, parallel to the reamed wall (11) directly below the lowerarticulation point (9 b), the upper hinge element (6 a) being slightlyinclined as shown in FIG. 5 between the intermediary articulation point(9 c) and the upper articulation point (9 a) situated slightly abovesaid intermediary point (9 c).

According to the embodiment illustrated, when the turning case mechanismis in the closed or lower position (A), a portion of the traveler (5)intended for receiving the product is arranged in the housing (10) ofthe base (4) advantageously below the horizontal plane (H), whichcontains the lower articulation point (9 b). We note, however, thataccording to an embodiment variation, said lower articulation pointcould be situated below the top of the base within the housing of saidbase.

The traveler (5) is, in a manner known in itself, composed of a portionof a tube (8 a) sealed at its lower end by a circular wall or bottom (5b). It advantageously has an offset or clearance notch (12) in its lowerpart, i.e., a hollowing out of a part of the peripheral tube (5 a) andof the bottom (5 b) as seen in FIG. 4, said notch being intended tofacilitate its positioning within the reaming (11) of the base (4).

Indeed, this clearance notch (12) is positioned on the traveler (5) ofthe main piece (2) in its lower part in such a way that when said partis positioned in the housing (10) of the base (4), it should not bedisturbed by the presence of the lower hinge element (6 b) the latterbeing positioned in the notch thus provided as shown in FIG. 5.

It is important to note that when the turning case mechanism (1) is inthe closed or lower position, the upper articulation point (9 a) betweenthe traveler (5) and the hinge elements (6, 6 a, 6 b) is situated belowthe lower articulation point (9 b) between those elements and the base(4).

Moreover, the hinge elements (6, 6 a, 6 b) of the turning case mechanism(1) advantageously have a refill opening (15) embodied in two parts, apart on each of the hinge elements (6 a, 6 b) as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.This opening (15) as well as the hollowing out (12) of the bottom (5 b)of the traveler are intended to allow the traveler to be filled with theproduct from the back of the mechanism, i.e., through the reamed-outportion (11) of the base (4).

According to the embodiment illustrated, the pivoting body (2) isintended to be snapped onto the base (4) of the main piece (3), saidbase having at its upper end, a groove for snapping (14). We note thatthis groove (14) makes it possible to embody the articulation inrotation between the main piece (3) and the pivoting body (2). It goeswithout saying that the assembly and the articulation between thepivoting body and the base could be achieved in another way, without thegroove for snapping, for example, without as such departing from thescope of the invention. In addition, we note that the pivoting body (2)has two spiral grooves (8 a, 8 b) situated in its internal peripheralwall, diametrically opposite. These grooves are intended to cooperatewith two guide pins (7 a, 7 b) arranged diametrically opposite, on thetube portion (5 a) forming the traveler (5) essentially at the level ofthe upper end thereof as shown in FIG. 7a. It goes without saying thatthe configuration of the cooperating means between the two complementarypieces, i.e., the main piece and the pivoting body could be differentand have only one groove and one pin, for example, without as suchdeparting from the scope of the invention.

According to a variation of the first embodiment previously described inwhich similar parts according to their function bear the samereferences, the turning case mechanism has stopping means (20 a, 20 b,20 c, 21 a, 21 b, 21 c) intended to prevent the movement of the traveler(5) beyond its extreme opened and closed positions. The stopping meansare constituted by the cooperation of the stop surfaces (20 a, 20 b, 20c) of the pivoting body and the support surfaces (91 a, 21 b, 21 c) ofthe traveler (5) on the main piece (3).

The support surfaces (21 a, 21 b, 21 c) are advantageously arranged onthe guide pins (7 a, 7 b) of the traveler whereas the stop surfaces (20a, 20 b, 20 c) are placed at the respective ends of the internal spiralgrooves (8 a, 8 b) of the pivoting body. According to this embodimentvariation, the stopping means comprise the following:

side support and stop surfaces (20 a, 20 b, 21 a, 21 b) intended toprevent the rotation between the pivoting body (2) and the traveler (5),respectively.

longitudinal support and stop surfaces (20 c, 21 c) that prevent anylongitudinal movement in the open position between the traveler and thepivoting body.

The side support and stop surfaces (20 a, 20 b, 21 a, 21 b)advantageously have a non-zero angle (E, F) with the correspondingradius of the pivoting body or the traveler as shown in FIGS. 12c, 14 aand 14 c. The support surfaces (20 a, 20 b) are advantageously formed bythe side edges of the guide pins (7 a, 7 b) that are beveled in such away that they lock against the stop surfaces (21 a, 21 b) of the grooveends (8 a, 8 b) in the same manner as harpoons in order to prevent thepins from leaving their grooves when the pivoting body is forced intorotation. According to the embodiment variation as illustrated in FIG.12b and 14 b, the longitudinal support and stop surfaces (20 c, 21 c)make a non-zero angle G with the horizontal transverse plane. It goeswithout saying that the stop and support surfaces could have a differentconfiguration and not be situated on the guide pins and the grooveswithout as such departing from the scope of the invention.

According to the invention and in order to allow the best possible useof the hinge elements (6 a, 6 b) in the housing (10) of the base (4)when the mechanism is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 10a, thelower hinge element (6 b) has a rounded or curved transversal profile asillustrated in FIG. 11b. According to the embodiment variationillustrated in FIGS. 10a through 11 b, the two hinge elements (6 a, 6 b)have a curved transversal profile; moreover, when the traveler is in thelower position, it can be observed that the upper hinge element (6 a) isessentially arranged in a horizontal transversal plane, in a housing(24) provided in the lower wall (5 b) of the traveler (5) whereas thelower hinge element (6 b) is then positioned in the clearance notch (12)of the traveler in a vertical position.

We note that the lower hinge element (6 b) has an outside diameterequal, within clearance, to the inside diameter of the grooved reaming(11) of the base (4) whereas the upper hinge element (6 a) has anoutside diameter and dimensions that allow it to pass within the insidediameter of the base collar. We note that the rounded or curved profileof the hinge elements constitutes a means for stiffening the hingeelements for the purpose of providing them with greater resistance totwisting.

According to the invention, the main piece (3) is advantageouslyfabricated in plastic, said material being chosen among polyolefins suchas polypropylene, polyethylene and among acetylics such aspolyoxymethylene. It goes without saying that other materials or otherplastics could be used to embody the turning case according to theinvention.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described andrepresented here by way of example, but it includes all technicalequivalents as well as their combinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. Turning case mechanism (1) in particular forcosmetic products, constituted of ai pivoting body (2) mounted inrotation on a main piece (3), formed of a traveler (5), a base (4) andhinge elements (6, 6 a, 6 b) connecting the base to the traveler,between a lower articulation point (9 b) with the base and an upperarticulation point (9 a) with the traveler (5), said traveler is capableof moving between an open or upper position (B) and a closed or lowerposition (A), characterized in that when the traveler (5) is in itslower position (A), the hinge elements (6, 6 a, 6 b) are arranged atleast in part inside the base and below the horizontal plane (H) thatcontains the lower articulation point (9 b).
 2. Turning case mechanism(1), according to claim 1, wherein the base (4) has a space (10)extending below the lower articulation point (9 b), in which the hingeelements (6, 6 a, 6 b), are at least partly positioned when the traveleris in the lower position (A).
 3. Turning case mechanism (1), accordingto claim 2, wherein the space (10) is formed by the reaming out (11) ofthe base (4).
 4. Turning case mechanism (1), according to claim 2,characterized in that when the traveler (5) is in the lower position(A), all of the hinge elements (6, 6 a, 6 b) are arranged below thehorizontal plane (H).
 5. Turning case mechanism (1), according to claim2, wherein the hinge elements are composed of two elements, a lowerelement (6 b) and an upper element (6 a) articulated between each otherat an intermediate articulation point (9 c).
 6. Turning case mechanism(1), according to claim 5, wherein the lower articulation point (9 b),between the base (4) and the lower element (6 b), and the upperarticulation point (9 a), between the traveler (5) and the upper element(6 a), are arranged on either side of a median longitudinal plane, thelower and upper elements being aligned when the traveler is in its openor upper position (B).
 7. Turning case mechanism (1), according to claim5, characterized in that when the traveler (5) is in its lower or closedposition (A), all of the hinge elements (6 a, 6 b) are housed under thelower articulation point (9 b), the lower hinge element (6 b) ispositioned in all essentially vertical position, directly under thelower articulation point (9 b), the hinge element (6 a) being slightlyinclined between an intermediate articulation point (9 c) and the upperarticulation point (9 a).
 8. Turning case mechanism (1), according toclaim 1, wherein at least a part of the traveler (5) is arranged underthe horizontal plane (H), when the latter is in the lower or closedposition (A).
 9. Turning case mechanism (1), according to claim 8,wherein the traveler (5) has in its lower portion a clearance notch (12)in which one of the hinge elements is positioned in part, when themechanism is in the lower or closed position (A).
 10. Turning casemechanism (1), according to claim 8, characterized in that when thetraveler (5) is in the lower or closed position (A), the upperarticulation point (9 a) is situated below the horizontal plane (H) thatcontains the lower articulation point (9 b).
 11. Turning case mechanism(1), according to claim 1, wherein it has stopping means (20 a, 20 b, 20c, 21 a, 21 b, 21 c) composed of stop surfaces on the pivoting body (2)and support surfaces of the traveler (5) of the main piece (3). 12.Turning case mechanism (1) according to claim 11, wherein supportsurfaces (20 a, 20 b, 20 c) are arranged on the guide pins (7 a, 7 b) ofthe traveler (5) and are formed by the beveled surfaces of the pins. 13.Turning case mechanism (1) according to claim 11, wherein the stopsurfaces (21 a, 21 b, 21 c) are arranged in internal grooves (8 a, 8 b)of the pivoting body (2) at their respective ends.
 14. Turning casemechanism (1), according to claim 11, wherein the stopping means haveside support and stop surfaces (20 a, 20 b, 21 a, 21 b) that preventrotation between the traveler and be pivoting body in the extreme closedand open positions of the traveler and longitudinal support and stopsurfaces (20 c, 21 c) that prevent any longitudinal movement of thetraveler in the pivoting body when it is in the open position. 15.Turning case mechanism (1), according to claim 1, wherein the hingeelements (6 a, 6 b) have a transversal rounded or curved profile. 16.Turning case mechanism (1), according to claim 1, wherein the main piece(3) is embodied in a plastic material chosen from among polyolefin andacetylic materials.